Mokpo National University Alumni Association Urges Decision to Establish Mokpo National University College of Medicine with Support from 70,000 Alumni

"Medical School Attraction Not Led by Mokpo National University Cannot Be Accepted"

The Mokpo National University Alumni Association (President Oh Chang-hyun) announced on the 25th that it held the inauguration and launch ceremony of the 30th president on the 24th and issued an urgent statement in the name of 70,000 Mokpo National University alumni urging the establishment of the Mokpo National University College of Medicine.

Oh Chang-hyun, the 30th president of the Alumni Association, said in his inauguration speech, “Governor Kim Young-rok’s announcement of the confirmation of the medical school through a public contest process is an irresponsible act that mocks the residents of the southwestern region and 70,000 alumni who have long hoped for the unified Jeonnam medical school that was agreed upon,” and strongly emphasized, “We cannot accept the establishment of a medical school that does not have Mokpo National University at its center.”

He also declared, “We urge Governor Kim Young-rok to make a decisive decision, and as a continuous project of the Alumni Association, we will do our best to attract the Mokpo National University College of Medicine by mutually cooperating with the local civil society, the university, and the political circles.”

Mokpo National University Alumni Association held the inauguration and launch ceremony for the 30th president and issued a statement urging the establishment of the Mokpo National University College of Medicine. They are urging Governor Kim Young-rok to make a decisive decision on the establishment of the Mokpo National University College of Medicine, a long-standing wish of residents for 34 years.
[Photo by Mokpo National University]

Following this, Song Ha-cheol, president of Mokpo National University, Park Hong-ryul, mayor of Mokpo, Kim Won-i, member of the National Assembly, and the Mokpo National University Alumni Association carried out a performance to attract the medical school to Mokpo National University.

Kim Won-i, member of the National Assembly, said, “The 34 years of efforts to attract the medical school were all efforts by the citizens of Mokpo and the alumni of Mokpo National University,” and strongly insisted on the “withdrawal” of the medical school public contest process conducted without prior consultation with Governor Kim Young-rok, saying it only fuels conflicts between the east and west regions.

He also stated, “The solution is already available: the medical school and university hospital should be established at Mokpo National University, a branch of Jeonnam National University Hospital should be installed in Yeosu, which is the hope of the eastern region, and a specialized industrial accident hospital should be established in Gwangyang, where industrial accidents are frequent.”

Park Hong-ryul, mayor of Mokpo, said, “This year is an important time when the region for attracting the Jeonnam medical school will be decided, and attracting the medical school is a long-standing wish of our region and an opportunity to raise the quality of medical services in the western region to a higher level,” emphasizing the “support and cooperation of Mokpo National University alumni so that the 34 years of efforts will not be in vain.”

Finally, all attendees urged together that there is no more time to wait, and that the national medical school in the Jeonnam region should be established at Mokpo National University, which strengthens public healthcare, promotes regional balanced development, has already completed feasibility studies by credible national institutions, and even has university land prepared.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.